4 
ite 
Ji Wo 


- aay 
“No. 940a | 
; 


_INFORMATION FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTERESTED IN 


MISSIONARY SERVICE AT HOME AND ABROAD 


The following pages are for the information of young men and women 
looking forward to missionary service under the Department of Missions 
of the Episcopal Church. The material is put in the form of questions 
and answers to secure brevity, to put the information clearly and to cover 
just such queries as have arisen during the course of years of experience 
with applicants and _ missionaries. The Department welcomes further 
correspondence on any questions that are not clear. Address Rey. A. B. 
Parson, 281 Fourth Avenue. 


* * * * 2 
Does the Church need more workers at the present time? 
The Church has at present definite calls for workers in every field. 


In what countries does our Church carry on its work? 

Our Church carries on work in the United States, Alaska, Brazil, 
Cuba, Haiti, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Panama Canal Zone, Philip- 
pine Islands, Porto Rico, Santo Domingo, Africa (Liberia only), 
China and Japan. 


What do you mean by the Department of Missions? 


The Department of Missions is the division of the National Council 
which has charge of the work of domestic and foreign missions. 


Where are the headquarters of the Department of Missions? 

At the Church Missions House, 281 Fourth Avenue, New York 
City. Here all the offices of the National Council of the Church 
are located. 


What are the names of the different departments of the National 
Council? 

The Departments of Missions, Religious Education, Social Service, 
Publicity, Field, and Finance. 


What is the Woman’s Auxiliary of the National Council? 


The Woman’s Auxiliary is a voluntary organization of women 
which helps to carry on the work of the Church at home and abroad. 


Why doesn’t our Church carry on work in India? 

We leave the work in India to our Mother Church of England which 
has jurisdiction there. Just as she leaves to us fields like Alaska, 
the Philippines, Porto Rico, and Hawaii, which are under our own 
flag. 


What are the chief kinds of missionary work carried on by our 
Church? 
Evangelistic, educational, medical, social and business. 


What do you mean by “evangelistic”? 

The term “evangelistic’ is applied to work which is distinctly 
religious; such as teaching the Bible, and giving instruction to men 
and women and children in the distinctly Christian and spiritual 
aspects of missionary work. 


In what kinds of work is there the most urgent need for workers? 


There is a crying need for clergymen, physicians, teachers, and 
trained social workers. There has been a good response from business 
workers, trained nurses and women evangelistic workers. 


What is the relative importance of home and foreign needs? 


They are both important. The question of where one is to. serve 
is a problem to be settled by the applicant himself. Nothing that is 
here said should detract from the crying need for workers at home 
and in the countries lying near at hand, including our Island posssess- 
ions and Latin America. The fact remains, however, that the great 
non-Christian world is the most needy field. Many people, because 
of family obligations or personal disabilities are unable to qualify for 
foreign service. This is an added reason why those who are free to 
go and can qualify should consider giving their lives to foreign service. 
The Church does not desire to stampede a disproportionate number of 
workers into the foreign field but desires to get a right proportion 
of its finest young men and women to offer for the difficult task of 
making the world into “The Kingdom of God.” 


QUALIFICATIONS 


How would you classify the chief requisite qualifications? 
Spiritual make-up, sound health, good education. 


1. SPIRITUAL MAKEUP. 


What is the great fundamental qualification? 


One’s strength of character, backed by firm Christian faith. Miss- 
ionaries ought to be filled with the love of Christ and to feel a real 
love for the souls for whom Christ died that will help them to spend 
themselves in service of others. They should be devout and earnest, 
and loyal to the Church; they should be willing to learn; they should 
be willing to work; for the mission needs those who are active and 
energetic in doing the work to which they have been sent, 


What additional characteristics should men and women possess to 
become successful workers on the mission field? 

Persons desiring to enter the mission field should be possessed of an 
even disposition and good temper. They are, by the nature of the 
work, thrown into close touch with the other workers, and it is 
essential that they should learn to subordinate their own wishes and 
desires to the good of the work. 


Can those be considered who are not communicants of the Epis- 
copal Church? 


Generally speaking, no. For one thing it is not fair to take 
possible missionaries from other boards. Then again it is easily 
understood that a Church which stands for a distinctive interpreta- 
tion of Christianity should accept for its workers those who under- 
stand this interpretation. When baptized Christians of other bodies 
contemplate confirmation they may be considered for service. 


2. HEALTH. 


How can one be sure of having good health on the foreign field? 

The person who is in good health at home will, as a rule, have good 
health on the mission field. It is necessary to have a physician’s ex- 
amination and report on a special blank issued by the Department of 
Missions before one is accepted for foreign service. 


Are there any age limits? 
Not for the home field. 
be not under 25 years of age or over 35 years of age. 
exceptions in some fields but this is a safe general rule. 


For foreign service applicants should 
There are 


What is the reason that persons under 25 years of age should not 
be sent abroad? 

Before 25 it is not considered that the purpose will always be 
fixed, or the physical constitution settled, or in the experiences of life 
have been sufficient to warrant the reasonable belief that the vol- 
unteer will remain permanently in the work. 


What is the reason 35 years is set as the second limit for most 
foreign service? 

After 35 is considered too late to enter upon the study of exacting 
foreign languages, some of which demand at least two years of study 
before the student is well grounded. “This study must be added to ine 
age at which the missionary enters the mission in estimating the 
time when -he will do really effective work in an independent way. 
The conditions of the work also demand a good deal of readjustment 
to strange surroundings and new people, and this is easier for those 
whose habits of life have not become too fixed. Therefore the 
Department of Missions aims to secure its candidates as young as 
is compatible with stability, in the expectation that the worker will 
give the mission as long a service as possible; for the value of the 
missionary ought to increase with the length of time spent in the work 
and with the experience gained. 


3. TRAINING 


Is special training always necessary? 


It is not always necessary. Each individual case is considered on 
its own merits. The essential thing is to have a thorough education 
along those lines that are required in the position for which the , 
candidate is applying. Where applicants have had this training and 
some experience, they may be ready to go at once to the field. 


Why is it necessary to have special training? 


Education is becoming more widespread throughout the world and 
it is increasingly difficult for. foreign workers, lacking in general 
culture to do effective work. ‘The changes of the last few years 
have all been in directions which call for a higher grade of service 
from the missionary. ‘There is no premium on social position and 
inherited wealth; “capacity to become” is what matters. Those 
of restricted outlook and narrow reach can more easily have their 
deficiencies supplemented in work at home. 


In case additional training is required what institutions are recom- 
mended by the Department of Missions for additional training for 
women who desire to do evangelistic work or for those who need 
to increase their knowledge of the Church? 


Our schools in New York, Philadelphia and Berkeley, California, 
are sending out women equipped for useful service. Courses in these 
schools are open to young women who have had only a high school 
education as well as to those of more advanced educational attain- 
ments. 


How can one get in touch with these institutions? What courses 


are offered in these institutions? 
Courses are offered in Old and New Testament, in Christian doc- 


trine, iiturgics and Church history, in religious pedagogy and the 
history ci missions, in hygiene and sanitation. Training is also given 
in Church, music, and in such practical matters as the care of the 
sick, the management of institutions, etc. Most important of all, 
the training of the spiritual life is provided for by frequent chapel 
services, devotional addresses, and quiet times for private prayer. 


Does the Department of Missions advise concerning the best insti- 
tutions for supplementary training? 


The choice of a school for theological and medical training or for 
normal work lies with the applicant. The Department of Missions 
commends especially the Social-Religious Courses at ‘leachers’ Col- 
lege, Columbia University, to those who desire post-graduate peda- 
gogical work. 


What distinctive principles should guide men and women in con- 
sidering missionary service? 

Generally speaking men are needed particularly for positions that 
cali tor post-graduate study in the professions of the miunistry, 
medicine and education. ‘ihere are calls for men also in business 
positions. Social service is a fruitful teld for men who wish to 
devote their lives to humanitarian work. 


Women are needed for the same general lines of work as men. 
The circumstances surrounding the training of young women in 
Church institutions makes it easier to use young women who have 
had only a high school education. 

While many of the suggestions given below will apply particularly 
to young women, it will be readily seen that those parts ot this 
pamphlet describing methods of application and principles guiding 
the Church in the choice of workers apply to both men and women. 


FIRST STEPS TO BE TAKEN 


How should candidates go about offering for missionary service?’ 


‘they should write fully to the Department of Milissions, 281 
Fourth Avenue, New York City. The letter shouid give essential 
tacts; for example, age, education, ability, health, Church member- 
ship, family conditions and the reasons leading to missionary service. 


What is the formal method of application? 


The Department of Missions has application blanks for (1) 
teachers, (Z) all other workers, (3) applicants tor scholarship grants. 
‘lhese may be secured on request and should be filled in as soon as 
the applicants are assured that they come within the general require- 
ments of the Department. 


Can applicants express a preference for special fields in which they 
desire to serve? 


One question reads, “In what missionary district do you prefer to 
serve and why? followed by the further question, ‘Would you go 
elsewhere if the way were not open to the tield of your preference?” 
Applicants sometimes attach conditions to their requests tor appoint- 
ment. The Department of Missions is always glad to consider pre- 
ferences, and to gratify them if possible. Ideal candidates, however, 
will offer to go where they are needed most. 


How long is the process before applicants know whether they are 
accepted for missionary service or not? 


The Department of Missions makes appointments for the field 
only upon request of a bishop. All information about a volunteer 
must be sent to the bishop in whose district the candidate hopes to 
work. Should the bishop desire to accept the offer of service, he 
notifies the Department of the fact. Often he also requests that 
arrangements be made for the volunteer to take a special course of 
supplementary training. In some instances when volunteers are 
needed for special work for which they have already had training, 
the usual period of testing and training in this country is not required; 
but without doubt this training and testing has done much to raise 
the standard of work in the field. 


BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS 


What salaries are paid by the Department of Missions? 


The salaries paid vary slightly in different fields. Printed state- 
ments of such arrangements are available for any and all fields. 


Are the salaries sufficient for comfortable living? 


The salaries given by the Church are adequate to supply the 
missionary with food and clothing and to cover all reasonable wants, 
but they are not large enough for anyone to lay up any considerable 
sum. ‘They have been calculated on the basis of supplying necessary 


expenses. One can live comfortably on them, but should not expect 
to do more. This is explained because there are candidates who wish 
to go out to the mission field but who have certain obligations at 
home which must be met out of their salary. It is not considered wise 
that anyone going to the foreign field should expect to send any 
considerable sum to the United States. In general the same differ- 
ences exist among the missionaries that exist anywhere; there are 
those who get along easily on the amount, and there are others who 
find it hard to be economical. 


What arrangements are made about travel expenses? 


The Department of Missions pays full travel expenses to the foreign 
field and returning to this country on the completion of the first 
term of service. 


Is there any allowance made for the purchase of necessary outfits? 


Yes, the Department of Missions provides its new appointees for 
foreign service with an outfit allowance of about $150. 


Is there any provision made for workers’ living quarters in the 
field? 


Yes, each worker is provided with living quarters in addition to 


the salaries paid. In the foreign field, these quarters are usually in 
the mission compounds. 


Are there other allowances made in addition to the salaries paid? 


Yes, medical and dental charges are paid by the Department of 
Missions. 


For how long does a new worker agree to remain in the field? 


We desire to have missionaries offer for life service. The intro- 
ductory term of service for women, is 4 years in all fields, except 
Liberia 2% years and Alaska 3 years. ‘The introductory term of 
service for men is 5 years in all fields, except Liberia 24% years. 


Does this mean that new workers do not have any vacation during 
the first term of service? 


Every missionary receives one month vacation every year, but he 
does not return to this country until the completion of his first 
term of service. 


CONCLUSION 


Why is it necessary to have so much “red tape” about appointment 
to foreign mission service? 

It is not “red tape” but is the necessary correspondence demanded 
by all other organizations sending workers abroad, in order to de- 
termine the fitness of applicants when people of all degrees of training 
and ability are constantly applying for service. 


Is there any reason why the Department of Missions should be 
more careful than other organizations in selecting workers for foreign 
service? 

We ought to be very sure that missionaries sent are the right ones 
because of the distance, expense, and the delay and extra cost of 
filling the posts made vacant because of failure of appointees. 


Why is it necessary for one tu burn one’s bridges behind one and 
offer for life instead of for a short period of teme on the foreign 
field; why cannot one try it out? 

In most cases the life of the foreign missionary is to be lived in 
entirely foreign conditions which require a new kind of life and a new 
language. Much time is required for the adapting of oneself to those 
new conditions of life. It can readily be seen, therefore, that it does 
not pay to spend such a long time in becoming used to the new 
conditions if one is going to return to this country in a few years 
and not go back to the field. Successful work is done only after years 
of careful study and this calls for a life vocation. 

The highest type of missionary service both at home and abroad 
can only be rendered by those who purpose to give their lives to the 
work of the Church. 


Why has so little been said of needs at home? 
Because those needs are more apt to be better known by young 
men and women and the need for workers is not so urgent. 


What new lines of work are open to young men and women desiring 
to give themselves to Christian service in this country. 

Aside from the ministry there is a need for men and women in 
Religious Education and Social Service, two fields of work that call 


for new leaders in the future. 
1 Ed. 6-28. 10M. F.T. 


